Museums

Leicester Museum & Art Gallery

A family friendly day out, the galleries include Ancient Egypt, Dinosaurs, Leicester Stories Gallery, and Leicester’s internationally renowned German Expressionism collection. Please note that some parts of the museum are currently closed for a major redevelopment that will create a range of exciting new galleries showcasing Leicester’s world class art and design collections (see visitor notice below for latest details). Formerly known as New Walk Museum.

The museum hosts a vast array of temporary exhibitions, featuring works from the collections and touring exhibitions from national museums. Plus a range of activities from entertaining talks, children’s handling sessions, lunchtime concerts, licensed for weddings, civil ceremonies and available for private hire.

Visit the gift shop to buy a range of exhibition merchandise and contemporary crafts, or pop by the Museum refreshment area to recharge with a drink, some food and free Wi-Fi.

Houses Museum, Newarke

Wygston’s Chantry House and Skeffington House were both built around 1511 in the area of Leicester which is now at the heart of De Montfort University campus in the city. Newarke Houses holds the collections of the Leicestershire Regiment in dedicated galleries.

These two houses, owned by William Wygston and Thomas Skeffington respectively, will take you on a historical journey with objects dating from Tudor times.

Since 1953 the Museum has brought together a collection of the things which make up people’s everyday lives. Collections of toys from the beginning of the 1500s to the present day, a thought-provoking regimental collection and a recreated First World War trench. We also have a 1950s street scene with its shops and pub where you can hear the stories of people who call Leicester their home.

After browsing the collections, you can relax in the Museum’s beautiful public gardens, flanked by walls marked by the English Civil War; an oasis in the middle of the surrounding hubbub and the perfect place for a few moments of peace. Next to Newarke Houses is the 15th Century Magazine Gateway, part of Leicester Castle which is available for booked tours.